作为奥斯汀市更新其长期水资源保护计划的努力的一部分，奥斯汀的水资源保护部门在1998年12月至1999年2月期间对水资源保护计划进行了一次全国基准调查。这项调查旨在收集有关保护计划、营销、预算和水费结构的广泛数据。通过收集基线信息，研究结果对全国范围内的水资源保护计划有了全面的了解。目的是回答以下问题:目前正在采用哪些方法来实现节水目标；给予不同客户类别的经济激励的类型和规模是什么；这些项目有多普遍？本次调查（包括在附录A中）扩展了1995年水资源保护计划国家基准调查。对1995年调查的修改包括: 删除收益/成本比率；免费乘客的百分比；以及按项目类型划分的人员成本。新问题涉及水预算费率结构、分项预算类别、灌溉和多户住房计量。该调查已传真至全国47个保护项目，并发布在WaterSiser网站上。另外38项调查通过电子邮件发送给listserve咨询公司。总共完成了34项调查，回复率为49%。

As part of the City of Austin's efforts to update its long-range water conservation plan, Austin's Water Conservation Division conducted a national benchmarking survey of water conservation programs between December 1998 and February 1999. This survey was designed to collect a wide range of data regarding conservation programs, marketing, budget and water rate structures. Compiling baseline information, the results give a broad picture of water conservation programs nationwide. The objective was to answer the following questions: what methods are currently being employed to achieve water conservation goals; what are the types and magnitude of financial incentives given to different customer classes; and, how prevalent are these programs? The present survey (included in Appendix A) expands the 1995 Water Conservation Program National Benchmarking Survey. Modifications to the 1995 survey include: the deletion of benefit/cost ratio; percent of free-ridership; and, staffing costs by program type. New questions involved water budgeting rate structures, itemized budget categories, and metering of irrigation and multi-family housing. The survey was faxed to 47 conservation programs countrywide and was posted on the WaterWiser web site. 38 additional surveys were emailed to listserve inquirers. Overall, 34 surveys were completed and returned for a response rate of 49%.